DARLINGTON — A brisk 38-degree evening gave way to a highly contested 7-0 win for the No. 1-seeded Redbirds (10-1, 7-0 SWAL) over the No. 5-seeded Pointers (7-4, 6-1) in a WIAA Division 6 Level 2 game on Friday.
“(It) doesn’t matter how it is done, winning is the name of the game in the playoffs,” Darlington head coach Travis Winkers said. “(I’m) very happy with our effort, toughness, and grit.”
The first half was characterized by a stout defensive effort from both fronts.
Following a pair of rushes from Tye Crist (30 att, 112 yds) and Maddox Goebel (17 att, 77 yds), Breylin Goebel (1-for-3, 9 yds) missed on a long pass to Broker Buschor. The Pointers forced a punt by stuffing the dual-threat quarterback at the line.
On the defensive end, the Redbirds didn’t give up a single, forcing the Pointers to go 3-and-out.
In Darlington’s second drive, Breylin Goebel connected with Maddox Goebel (1 rec, 9 yds) for a 9-yard, first-down pass. The Pointers responded with two tackles for losses, resulting in a turnover on downs.
The Pointers received the ball at their 37-yard line and marched down the field on a few big shots.
Two minutes into the second quarter, though, defensive lineman Ross Crist (1 INT, 1 FF) snagged an interception.
The Redbirds were unable to capitalize on the turnover, despite taking nine minutes off the clock. Maddox Goebel’s ensuing punt pinned the Pointers on their own 3-yard line.
With just over a minute left in the half, Mineral Point was unable to score.
Coming out of the break, Darlington knew it needed to get into the end zone, and while Mineral Point played tough defense, the Redbirds were more than up to the task.
To that end, Darlington recorded the only touchdown of the night as Breylin Goebel punched in a 1-yard rush. Denilo Ramos-Godoy (1-for-1 PAT) made the PAT to give the Redbirds a 7-point lead.
The Pointers had an opportunity to respond, as Sporle connected with Landon Thousand inside the Darlington 30-yard line.
What Mineral Point couldn’t anticipate was Reagan Jackson chasing Thousand down to punch the ball out with a Redbird recovery.
Darlington carried the lead into the fourth quarter, needing to hold on a little bit longer.
Despite a missed field goal attempt and fumble, Darlington kept Mineral Point out of the end zone. Ross Crist forced another turnover, and Roger Volkening III sealed the game with an interception.
“Our defense played exceptionally with a big stand in the first quarter and caused some big turnovers later in the game,” Winkers said. “It was a typical Wisconsin playoff big boy football game. Even though it was low scoring, it was an entertaining game that had a positive ending for us.”
Two games remain ahead of Camp Randall, and Darlington’s first hurdle is a home game this Friday against a No. 3-seeded Lancaster (10-1) squad that out-rushed the top-ranked team in the state — No. 2 seed Kenosha St. Joseph — 310 yards to 243 yards last week.
“The two premier small school programs in the history of southwest (Wisconsin) battling it out for a trip to the state semifinals — you can’t ask for more than that,” Winkers said.
